O’Malley, Brown Announce Veteran Hiring Campaign

WASHINGTON - MAY 31: World War II veterans Robert Zeller, left, and Larry Monroe, salute the American flag as it passes by in the Memorial Day Parade on Independence Avenue in Washington, DC, on May 31, 2004. Many World War II veterans marched in the parade along with high school and military bands, floats and veterans of other conflicts. (Photo by Matthew Cavanaugh/Getty Images)credit: Matthew Cavanaugh/Getty Images

The statewide campaign will encourage employers to hire Maryland veterans and support current services for veterans seeking employment.

“Veterans bring remarkable skill sets and qualities to our civilian work environment. They display fierce loyalties and commitment, a strong work ethic, excellent problem solving capabilities, and technical training,” O’Malley said in a statement. “Supporting veteran employment is not only good for our veterans and their families; it is good for our communities and our businesses.”

The O’Malley-Brown adminstration has set a goal of full employment for all Maryland veterans by the end of 2015.

“While we owe them a debt we can never fully repay, Operation Hire will play a critical role in supporting the men and women who have given so much for our state and for our nation,” said Brown. “As we continue to grow our economy and create jobs faster than any other state in our region, we must remain committed to ensuring that our veterans can use the skills they learned defending our country to compete for good, middle-class jobs throughout our state.”

Beginning June 1, businesses and agencies can visit the Operation Hire website for more information and to register as a participant.

Hiring toolkits and veteran employment resources will be available online, and the Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs will share participant information and track hiring for 100 days, according to a statement released by the Governor’s Office.

In early fall, businesses and agencies who participate in the program will reportedly be recognized for their efforts.